New Farm Bill Provides Long-Overdue Eligibility for Renewable Chemicals

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) today thanked Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Sen. Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), Rep. Frank Lukas (R-Okla.), and Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) for supporting the Farm Bill energy programs and extending eligibility to new renewable chemical technologies. The conference report on the legislation contains $881 million in mandatory funding for the programs, long-overdue eligibility to renewable chemicals under the Section 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program and Section 9007 Biomass Research and Development Program, and support for new purpose grown energy crops.

BIO President & CEO Jim Greenwood said, “The agreement announced today represents the successful culmination of two years’ efforts to reauthorize the Farm Bill. We congratulate the leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for their hard work on this bill, and we particularly thank Chairwoman Stabenow for championing new economic and employment opportunities in biomanufacturing under the energy title.

“With stable policy and the investments included in this conference report, Farm Bill energy programs will continue to help rural communities create economic growth and good paying jobs. The expansion of eligibility to new renewable chemical technologies and the support for new energy crops will create additional opportunities and improve U.S. economic growth across the country.”